LOOKBOOK
Stories We Cherish Conversations Print, Collection 03, 2021
THE PRINT
Storytelling is in our DNA
Every aspect of life can become a story. From experiences of the past, our present day, and through to our dreams for the future, we all can captivate.
Growing up in Zim, the world seemed like make-believe. It felt as though storytelling and conversations were paramount to the fabric of our society. All around me were storytellers anticipating and waiting for the next available ear.
They told playful and funny stories, painful and solemn stories, and stories which captured our hearts. Even when they were amusing, like The Hare and The Baboon, they were still ingrained with something so powerful. What we didn’t know then was that these stories were not only told to entertain us but also to preserve our culture, preserve our lost history and keep us connected to the foundations of who we were and are.
Now we know. While we can’t resurrect all we’ve lost, we can create our history. We can now document the true essence of who we are as a people, as a community, as a culture and as Africans. We can start telling authentic stories.
The Beginning: Unveiling Our Creative Process.
Our Conversation print draws inspiration from our brand logo, featuring the “Stories We Cherish” motif, which symbolises ‘conversation’ in the Southern African Nguni writing system. Upon closer inspection, you’ll notice our logo embedded within the print, derived from this unique and culturally rich writing system originating from Southern Africa. Traditionally, the Nguni writing system was not widely taught, known only to a select few who had the privilege of learning it, including South African women, medicine men, elders, and wise individuals.
What sets this system apart is that its symbols do not represent individual letters but rather convey entire words or complete ideas. Our chosen symbol signifies ‘conversation,’ reflecting our belief that through storytelling, we can initiate dialogues that reshape perceptions and narratives about African identity, unveiling our true essence.
The talented illustrator who brought this concept to life is Mat Li, a Malagasy artist whom we discovered online, collaborating closely, we developed this print together. In 2022, we had the opportunity to visit Mat Li for the first time in Madagascar, where we immersed ourselves in his creative environment and experienced more of his work firsthand.